Basic Granola Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much granola is enough? ›

Go for a healthier choice with less added sugars and fats. And pay attention to the suggested serving size. How much granola should be consumed in a day? For one meal, a 1/4 to 1/2 cup serving should do.

Baking time: Increase the baking time for your granola. The longer you bake it, the drier and crunchier it will become. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning, and stir it occasionally during baking to ensure even toasting.

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Whole Wheat and Almond Flour

First, it adds a combo of whole wheat flour and almond flour (or almond meal), which act as a binder to hold the oat mixture together.

Yogurt and granola can be genuinely healthy, depending on the yogurt and granola you use. There are better and unhealthy forms of the two fixings. The best blend is Greek yogurt with granola, which is high in protein and fiber.

Granola with milk or yogurt is a great option for a healthier sweet treat at the end of the day, but you can also use it to top ice cream, milkshakes or homemade sweets.

The serving size for granola can differ by brand, but a typical portion of granola is 1/3 cup, says Sass, “about the size of one-third of a tennis ball.” That means sitting down to a big bowl of granola for breakfast is excessive.

Yes. "Granola does contain important nutrients, and if you enjoy it, eating some every day is probably fine as part of a balanced diet," says Harris-Pincus.

(Oils that are monounsaturated or polyunsaturated are healthier.) So look for granolas with less than 3 grams of saturated fat per ⅓ cup. While the fiber content should be decent if the granola says it's made from “whole grains,” watch out for granolas that have less than 2 grams of fiber per ⅓ cup.

Keep in mind that the granola won't be dry right out of the oven — it will dry as it cools. So take it out of the oven when it looks lightly toasted and smells like cooked honey. We're going for a toasty smell here. Add dried fruit after baking.

NOTE: The granola will clump and harden while cooling - not during baking. Allow to cool before stirring in the raisins, cranberries, or craisins. If stored in an airtight container, your granola could last for 2 weeks.

What is the binding agent for homemade granola? ›

Chia seeds are often praised for their binding powers. In fact, they secure ingredients so well that they can even be used as an egg replacer. Adding just a spoonful of chia seeds to your favorite granola bar recipe will make a huge difference in its texture.

The binder is what helps the base ingredients clump together into clusters. Traditionally this is usually a sugar syrup, but it's possible to use any ingredient that has the power to bind. Egg - Egg whites are a great binder for granola if you are trying to avoid sugar.

Make sure that whichever granola recipe you use, it calls for some liquid, typically oil of some kind (I recommend olive oil for a subtle earthy, floral flavor, or melted unrefined coconut oil for subtly coconutty flavor). The liquid will help the chia seeds to gel, ensuring the granola sticks together.

Enjoying Granola on its Own

No further preparation necessary—just grab a spoon and enjoy! To ensure that you're getting a balanced breakfast, use a type of granola that includes a nutritious mixture of ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Granola contains rolled oats, fruits, honey, raisins, almonds, and other components. Oatmeal must be cooked in hot water before eating, but granola oats can be eaten immediately as a snack.

Granola can be enjoyed on its own as a midday snack. This makes it perfect for when you are short on time. Just grab a handful of granola and go! In my opinion, chunky granola made with honey has the best snackable crunchy texture because it's made in a way that gives you larger chunks of granola.

Granola tends to be a magical mix of rolled oats, nuts and honey or maple syrup. It can be eaten for breakfast or as a midday snack, served over yogurt or mixed into your favorite baked goods.